We’re almost there, guys. 2016 is almost over, and hopefully we can all enjoy a small bit of relief over that fact before 2017 comes up and sucker-punches us with its own particular existential shitshow. But even with all the awfulness of the last twelve months, there were some bright spots. I got my first comic story selected for publication. I got engaged. And as always, there has been some tremendous art from incredible artists to guide me and inspire me and lay the groundwork for how to face the world. So, in lieu of a normal Favorites list, I decided to write up the artists that helped me get through the ugliness of 2016.

As I’m sure you’re aware by now, Peter O’Toole passed away this past weekend at the age of 81, which is obviously a huge loss to the film world, even though O’Toole had already retired from acting. Among the many remembrances I read, the one that immediately struck a chord for me was this tweet from Patton Oswalt:

When I did RATATOUILLE, the animators were SALIVATING at the prospect of rendering Peter O’Toole’s read of “POP-u-lar.” #RIPPeterOToole

And on that note, my girlfriend and I resolved to rewatch Brad Bird’s brilliant Ratatouille. I’m unashamed to admit I was teary-eyed by the end of it as usual, thanks in no small part to Anton Ego’s climactic flashback and monologue, performed brilliantly by Mr. O’Toole. Like any good climax should, that sequence displays the core of the movie, one that moves me the way few other movies do these days.